Classifier.



A. L. BLOMFIELD.

CLASSIFIER.

APPucATloN men MAY22.1916.

1,292,237. Patented Jan. 21,1919.

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W1 TNESS:

A. L. BLOMFIELD.

CLASSIFIER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 22. 19H5.

1,292,237. Patented Jan.21,1919.

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WITNESS: IN V EN TOR.

)el ALLoMF/ELD i. .3; m

ATTORNEY.

and more ALFRED L. ".BLOMFIELD, 0F

DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIG-NOR T0 THE DORB COMPANY, A. CQBPORATION 0F DELAWARE.

CLASSIFIEB.

Speci-cation of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 21, 1919.

Application led May 22, 1916. Serial No. 99.111. l

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFREDL. BLOMFIELD, a subject of George V, King of England, residin at Denver, in the county of Denver and ate of Colorado, have invented cer` tain new and useful Improvements Vin Classifiers, of which the following is a specilication.

My invention relates to settling apparatus articularly 'to classifiers of the type in w ich fine and coarse solids contained in ore-pulp or other liquid suspensions are. byv gravity, divided in a settling or subsidence vessel and separately discharged therefrom.

.It is the principal object of the p-resent invention to provide in apparatus of the character described, a chamber providing an initial settling zone and having an overflow for liquid and suspensions and in communication with s aid chamber a vessel providing a secondary settling zone and dewatering chamber in which the `oversize or coarse product is mechanically impelled to a point of discharge above the liquid level determined by the overflow. l

In the preferred form of my invention the primary settling zone is provided by a shallow vtank and the dewatering-chamber including the secondary settling zone comprises an elongated trough-shaped box provided with an inclined bottom, and a rake or conveyer vof suitable construction is mounted therein to impel settlingy matter alon said bottom toward an outlet above the liquid level. J

Mechanical means effect a continuous uniform movement of the coarse matter from the initial settling zone into the secondary zone, and adjustable devices are provided vfor regulating the capacity of the shallow tank and the area of its outlet to compensate for variations in the feed or to vary the coarseness of the overflow.

Fine particles entering the dewatering trough with the coarse product are separated therefrom by the agitative action of the rake or conveyer and compelled to reenter the primary settling chamber -by a countercurrent produced by introduclng a -flow of liquid into the moving mass exterlorly of said chamber. The material is thus repeatedly subjected to the separative actions in the settling zones until a clean -and distlnct Separation of the sizes is obtained and the coarse product is discharged from the I machine with a limited percentage of moisture and is thereby adapted for immediate treatment in the mill or other appliance to which it is conveyed. v

In the accompanyin drawings in the various views of which lil-(e parts are similarly designated,

Figure 1 re resents a plan view of my improved classi er in its preferred form,

Fig. 2, a longitudinal section of the same, taken along the line 2-2, Fig. 1, Ag

Fig. 3, a vertical central section of the initial settling chamber showing a suitable means of varying the capacity of the chamber and the area of its outlet, Figs. 4 and 5, sectional views similar t that of Fig. 2, showing modified constructions of the mechanism for impelling .the

coarse product along the inclined bottom of the dewatering trough, and

Fig. 6, a sectional elevation of a modified form of the invention.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2 of the l ciated conveying elements act alternately to move the settling solids upwardly alongthe inclinedl bottom toward an outlet adjacent the upper end thereof.

The conveyer elements in the preferred form of my invention, illustrated in Figs. 1

and 2, consist of a pair of' reciprocating rakes 5 which are suspended in substantiallyV parallel relation to the bottom of thetrough Each rake is suspended by means of hangg-g 6 from bell-cranks 7 and 8 which are mount'- ed for oscillation-above the settling-trough.

One of the bell cranks, 7, is -mounted on a lever-arm of a rocker shaft 9 which by means'of a cable 10 is connected with a winding mechanism 12l by Athe use of which the position of the rake with relation to the bottom of the dewatering trough may be determined within determinate limits. s

The'other bell-crank 8 .which is Lmounted adjacent the forward, upper end of the trough is periodically actuated by a cam 13 on a. rotary shaft 14 which throughthe intermediary of a crank wheel and a pitman 16 imparts a reciprocating movement; to the rake. i

The two bell-cranks are connected for conjunctive movement by means of4 a rod 17, and the shaft 14 is through the instrumentality of a gearing 18 connected with a powershaft 19- which -receives its motion from a conveniently located motor.

two rakes are relatively positioned on the October 12, 1915, and is, per se,

shaft 14 so that the two rakes movein opposite directions in the compartments of the trough. l

The above described conveying mechanism is similar to that disclosed in United States Patent'No. 1,156,543, David J. Nevill, issued not part of the present invention.

In the form of the classifier shown in Fig.

' 4 an endless belt conveyer 2O takes the place of the rakes of the first-described construction, and in the modification illustrated in "Fig- 5,

the dewatering chamber consists of an in lined tubular conduit 21 in which a screw-conveyer 22 has a rotary movement.

Disposed at the lower end of the trough 3 at a distance above its sloping bottom is a vessel 23 which provides the hereinbefore referred to initial settling chamber.

The material'to be classified is this chamber and separates by gravitation into two sizes, one 'of which consists of suspensions in liquid which overiiow at the upper end of the chamber, and the other one of which is composed ot settling solids which are discharged into the trough 2.-

The vessel is preferably made in the form of a shallow cylindrical tank having a slightly sloping bottom and an outlet 24 for settling matter.

The material is fed through a launder 25 intoa feed box -26 pensions overiowing the peripheral edge of the vessel are received in a launder 27 provided with a discharge spout 28.

A shaft 29 rotatably suspended inbearings 30 carries at its lower end a number of sweeps 31 which move in close proximity to the bottom of the vessel and are designed to move material settling upon said bottom toward the outlet 24.

The shaft is slowly rotated by means of a worm movement 32 which in the construction illustrated in Fig. 2 may be driven from the power shaft of the rake-operating mechanisin, through the medium of a belt'33.

tions, be found my invention.

fed into.

and the liquid and sus,

. a counter-current which opposes the forward of the vessel may be varied by the use o v'flanged rings 34 supported upon' its peripheral edge as shown in Fig. 3, and the area of the outlet 24 may be reduced by similarl smaller dimension as il ustrated in the same figure.' l

While the use of a settling chamber of the form hereinbefore described, is preferable,

I desire it understood that a vessel of ditl'er- 75 ent construction may, under certain condisuitable for the purposes of The tank 23 may, for example, ube provided with a downwardly slopin dicharging mechanism or simpl effects the continuous uniform movement o the settling solids toward the outlet of the chamber.

A valve-controlled conduit 36 connected with a conveniently located source of waterserves to introduce a owlofliquid dewatering trough for the pu'pose irecsupply, into the of producing a current moving in a tion opposite to that in which' coarse p rod-l i uct is impelled along the sloping bottom of the trough, ora similar result may be obtained by admitting a currentk of liquid into the outlet 24 of the initial settling zone' through. a valve-'closed conduit 37.

A normally closed outlet 38 at the lower 95 is provided to drain the end of the trough same whenever required. In the operation of my improved classifier .the materialunder treatment is fed-into the chamber 23 through the centrally 10 settling disposed feed box 26. The ne constituents of the material are heldin suspension in the liquid and overflow the peripheral edge of` the vessel into the launder 27 while the heavier and coarser solidsv falltoward the 1( bottom ot' the vessel.

The settling matter is by the action of the rotating sweeps 31moved across the bottom^ of the vessel toward and into the outlet which discharges into the dewatering trough. l

The rakes moving along the bottom of the trou h move the coarse product of they first settling action upwardly toward the outlet 39 at the upper end of the same and by their reciprocating motion maintain the' line 1 particles which were discharged' from the primary settling zone with the coarser l'matter, in sus ension in the liquid in the deepest portion o secondary settling zone.

These suspensions naturally arrange them.- selves in this secondary zone in .layers according to their different specic gravities and the liquid introduced into the .dewatering trough through the conduit 36 produces movement of the ne particles with the'l coarse product and compels thevsuspensions 'in the' secondary settling zone. to reenter the primary wsettling zone in which they are shaped rings 35 of 70 bottom which either coperates with a 80 the trough which constitutes' the` j l again subjected to the classi 'ng action, and

permitted to overflow into t e launder with the lines of the material constantly fed into the classifier from the feed-box 26.

The coarse product or oversize is delivered through the outlet of the trough above the water-level determined by the overiow of the vessel 23, free from fine material and with a comparatively small percentage of mois-- ture.

The counter-current may be amplified by a flow of liquid entering the outlet 24 through the conduit 37, or if so desired an upward flow may be produced by water admitted through the conduit 37 exclusive of that which is 'introduced into the dewatering trough through the conduit 36.

The capacity of the apparatus is readily regulated to compensate for increasing or decreasin feed vby placing one of the reduction rlngs 34 shown in Fig. 3, in the vessel, it being understood that rings of different dimensions may be provided to reduce the capacity of the vessel to any desired degree.

The area of the outlet 24 may likewlse be reduced to any desired extent by the use4 of the reduction rings 35, and the velocity of the upward flow may thus be regulated in accordance with the volume of the supply or the nature of the material under treatment. Instead of introducing the liquid which produces thecountercurrent, into the dewatering chamber through the pipe '36 or into the outlet 24 through the plpe 37, the bottom of the vessel 23 may be perforated as shown at 42 in Fig. 3, and a chamber 40 formed below the perforated. portions.

Liquid admitted to this chamber through a pipe 41 enters the settling zone in a number of separated jets.

In the construction shown in Fig. 6 th secondary settling zone and dewatering chamber consists of'a cylindrical vessel 42 havin in its bottom a discharge' opening 43 which preferably is connected with a suction pump (not shown in the drawings) by means of a conduit 44. The volume of the discharge from the dewatering chamber is in this construction re lated by varying the stroke or velocity of t e pump.

A series of sweeps 45 has a slow movement over the bottom of the chamber to im el the settling solids in 'a thickened condition toward the outlet. I

The vessel 23compr1s1ng the 1n1t1al settling chamber is preferably placed coaxial with the vessel 42 which constitutes the secondary settling zone and the dewatering element, and the two series of sweeps 31 and 45 which move about the bottoms of the two vessels, may, if so desired, be mounted on one and the same shaft, as shown 1n the drawings.

A spout 48 connected wlth the overiiow launder 27 of the vessel 23 extends beyond the wall of the dewatering chamber and the conduit 36 is positioned to admit a flow of liquid into the dewatering chamber to produce an u ward current which opposes the downwar movement of material from the initial settling zone.

In the operation ofthe construction shown 1n Fig. 6, the material fed into the vessel 23 is divided into the suspensions which with the liquid overflow into the launder 27, and the coarser matter which passes through the outlet 24 into the secondary settling zone of the vessel 42.

In the last-mentioned zone the coarse matter settles upon the bottom of the vessel and is in a thickened condition moved to and through the outlet 43 and into the conduit 44 with a very small percentage of moisture.

The lines which entered the secondary settling chamber with the coarse constituents of the material are held in suspension to renter the vessel 23 by the counter-current produced by the liquid introduced into the vessel 42 through the pipe' 36.

Modications otherthan those shown in the drawings and hereinabove described, may be availed of within the spirit of my invention as -set forth in the following claims: v

1. A classifier comprising in combination, a secondary settling chamber and a primary settling chamber which has an overflow determining the water-levels in said chambers and having a portion projecting within the secondary chamber, the secondary chamber having an outlet above its liquid-level, and the primary chamber having a bottom surface adapted to cause the congregation of settling matter to `a semi-solid condition,

and in connection with. said surface, meansproviding a passage discharging beneath the water-level of the secondary chamber, a device for moving material settling upon the bottom of the primary chamber toward said passage, means for feeding material -into the primary chamber, and adevice for moving material settling in the secondary chamber along a sloping surfaceto said outlet, said secondary chamber having a free settling region above said device.

2. A. classifier comprising in combination, a secondary settling chamber and a primary settling chamber which has an overflow determining the.waterlevels in said chambers and having a portion projecting within the secondary chamber, the secondary chamber having an outlet above its liquid-level, and the primary chamber having a bottom surface adapted to cause the congregation of settling matter to a semi-solid condition, and in connection with said surface, means providing a passage discharging beneath the water-level of the secondary chamber, a device for moving material settling upon the mary chamber having a bottom. surface Y bottom of the primary chamber toward said adapted to cause the congregation of settling passage, means for feeding material into the -matter Vto asemi-solid condition, and in conprimary chamber, and a device for moving nection with said surface, means providing a material settling in the secondary chamber passage discharging beneaththewater-level 70 along a slopingsurface t0 sa'd outlet, said of the secondary chamber, a device for mov- 4 secondary chamber bein adapted to maining material settling upon the bottom of the tain a liquid-level slight y above that in the primary chamber toward said passage, primary settling chamber and having a free means for feeding material into the primary ioY settling region above said device. chamber, and a device for moving mate- 75*` 3. A classifier comprising in combination, a rial settling in the secondary chamber along secondary settling chamber and a primary said sloping surface to eiect its discharge settling chamber which has an overiow dethrough said outlet, said secondary chamber termining the water-levels in said chambers, having a free settling region above said and havingaa portion projecting within the device. :I

- secondary chamber, the secondary chamber 6.4 A classiiier com rising an oblong sechaying an outlet above its liquid-level, and ondary settling cham er, and a primary settheprimary chamber having a bottom-surtling hamber which has an overilowdeterface adapted to cause the congregation of mining the water levels in said chambers,

settling matter to a semi-solid condition, andv having a portion projecting within the 85 and in connection with said surface, means secondary chamber, the secondary chamber providing a passage discharging beneath having at one of its ends an outletl above its the Water-level -o the secondary chamber, liquid level, and the primary chamber hava device for moving material settling upon ing a bottom surface adapted to'fcause the the bottom of the primary chamber toward congregation of settling matter to a semi- 00 said passage, means for feeding material solid condition, and in connection with said into the primary chamber, means for the surace, means providingapassage'dischargsupply oi a liquid to the secondary chamber, ing'beneath the water-level of the secondary and a device' for moving material settling chamber at theopposite endthereof,a device in the secondary chamber along a sloping for moving material settling upon the bot- 95 surface to said outlet, said secondary chanitom of the primary hamber toward said ber having a Jr'ree settling region above said passage, means for feeding material into the device. primary chamber and a device 'for moving 4. A classifier comprising in combination, material Settling in lthe secondary' chamber 85 a secondary settling chamber having a slOpalong a sloping surface to said outlet, said 100 ing bottom surface adapted to support the' secndary chamber having a free settling resettling .constituents of ore-pulp against a 'on above said device. n downward ilow, and a primary settling '7. A classifier comprising an oblong secchamber which has an overflow determining ondary settling chamber having a longitudi- 40 the Water-levels in said chambers, and hav- 119,11 sloping bottom Surface, and a primary 105 ing a portion projecting within the secondsett g chamber which has an overflow deary chamber, the secondarly chamber having terminlng the water-levels in said chambers, an outlet above its liquidevel, and the priand having a portion projecting within the mary chamber having 'a bOttOln 'Surface secondary chamber, the secondary chamber adapted to cause the congregation of settling having at one of its ends an outlet above its 110 matter to a semi-solid condition, and in con- 'liquid level, and the prl ry chamber havnection with said surface, means providing ing a bottom surfaceadapted top-cause tlm.. a passage discharging beneath the .water congregation of settling matter to a level of the secondary chamber, a device for solid condition and in connectionwith said moving material settling upon the bottom of surface, means providingapas'sage discharg- 115 Y the primary chamber toward said passage, ing beneath the Water level of the secondary means for feeding material into the primary chamber at thel opposite end thereof, a device chamber, land a device for A moving mater. for moving material settling upon the botrial settling inthe secondary chamber along tom of the primary chamber toward said said sloping surface to eiect its discharge passage, means for feeding material vinto the 120 through outlet, said secondarychamber havprimary chamber, and a device for movlrng ing free settling region above said device. material settling in the secondary chamber `5. A classifier comprising in combination,v along said sloping surface to eiect its disa secondary settling chamber having a slopcharge through said outlet, said s econdary ing bottom surface and' a'primary settling chamber having a free, setthng region aboveA chamber which has an overiiow determining said device. 1

the water-levels .in said chambers, and lhav- 8. A classifier comprising 1n combination, ing a portion projecting within the seconda secondary setthng chamber and a. primary ary chamber, the secondary chamber having settling chamber wbichhas an overflow Adean outlet above its liquid-level, and the prtermining the Water-levels in said chambers, 130,

and having a portion projecting within the Secondary chamber, the secondary chamber having an outlet above its liquid-level, and the primary chamber having in its bottom surface a passage discharging beneath the Water-level ofthe secondary chamber, means for feeding material into the primary chamber, and a device for moving material settling in the secondary chamber along a sloping surface to said outlet, said secondary 10 chamber having a free settling region above said device.

In testimony whereof I have afixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALFRED L. BLOMFIELD. Witnesses:

G. J. ROLLANDET, L. RHoADEs. 

